US House advances Russia sanctions bill that could hit India with 100% tariffs

India could face dangerously high US tariffs under legislation aimed at countries that continue to buy Russian crude and natural gas

The US House of Representatives on Tuesday cleared a key procedural hurdle for a sweeping sanctions package targeting Russia and Iran, setting the stage for a final vote on legislation that could give President Donald Trump broad new powers to impose tariffs on countries buying Russian energy.

The measure, known as the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026’, advanced by 214-211. Two Democrats, Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, joined Republicans in backing the procedural vote.

If approved by the House, the legislation would give Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from certain countries that continue to purchase Russian crude oil and natural gas. The bill also contains provisions targeting Russia's financial and energy sectors and extending sanctions related to Iran.

India could face particular exposure under the proposed secondary tariff provisions. A House amendment introduced by Democrat Steny Hoyer would explicitly name 10 countries that could become eligible for tariffs of up to 100 per cent. The list includes India, China, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Slovakia, the UAE, Singapore, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

India has remained a major buyer of Russian crude, particularly since the Ukraine war pushed Moscow to offer discounted oil to international buyers. The proposed legislation seeks to use access to the US market as leverage against countries that continue to purchase Russian energy.

The Senate passed its version of the legislation by an 86-11 vote in August. The White House has backed the bill, saying the additional tariff authority could be used to pressure Russia towards ending its war in Ukraine.

The House procedural vote clears the way for lawmakers to debate and vote on the legislation itself. If the House passes the bill, its final path will depend on whether the House version differs from the Senate-passed measure.

The legislation has faced opposition from House Democrats, who argue that it would give Trump excessively broad tariff powers and could raise prices for US consumers. Supporters say the measures would increase economic pressure on Russia and countries continuing to do business with Moscow.